ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-A Gaming WIFI D4 Review

ASUS may be well-known for its flagship EXTREME series of motherboards, but they’re rarely something people actually need, let alone that they can afford with prices pushing near to £1000. Moving somewhat further down the range, you’ll find the ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-A Gaming WIFI D4, a mid-to-high-end gaming motherboard with a competent, but not crazy amount of I/O, that’s sure to be enough for your typical PC gamer, and of course, that’s reflected in the price, which is a little over £300 at the time of writing.

ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-A Gaming WIFI D4

It’s ready for the latest 12th or 13th Gen Intel processors and features an impressive 16+1 VRM configuration with 70A power stages, likely way more than you actually need, but if you’re planning to push the CPU hard and often, then it’ll certainly help retain your system’s performance with that robust power hardware and some larger VRM heatsinks. However, it also features a robust amount of I/O for additional storage, USB devices, and fast networking, so you shouldn’t have any issues getting all your gaming hardware hooked up and ready to rock.

Features

• Intel LGA 1700 socket: Ready for 13th Gen Intel Core processors & 12th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold and Celeron Processors
• Robust Power Solution: 16 + 1 power solution rated for 70A per stage with dual ProCool II power connectors, high-quality alloy chokes, and durable capacitors to support multi-core processors
• Optimized VRM Thermals: Massive heatsinks with integrated I/O cover and high-conductivity thermal pads.
• Ample M.2 Support: One PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot with a heatsink and backplate, and three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots with heatsinks
• Connectivity: USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C rear I/O port and additional front-panel connector with PD 3.0 up to 30W, USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 1 ports, PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlot, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 1.4
• High-Performance Networking: On-board WiFi 6E (802.11ax) and Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard
• Intelligent Control: ASUS-exclusive AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, AI Networking, and Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation simplifies setup and improves performance
• Immersive Gaming Audio: ALC4080 with Savitech SV3H712 amplifier, along with DTS Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III

What ASUS Had to Say

“Well-versed in style, performance, cooling, and connectivity, the ROG Strix Z790-A exudes well-rounded balance inside and out. A robust VRM topped with stout silver heatsinks comfortably articulates power for the latest Intel® 13th Gen Core processors. PCIe 5.0, WiFi 6E, and high-speed USB flesh out the board’s fluency across a variety of disciplines. Lastly, a vast collection of tuning options and utilities derived from its ROG heritage are the icing on top.” – ASUS